Customer Reviews

Betrayal (Urban Renaissance)

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Dwayne Joseph's Betrayal tells what one man did in order to get his freedom. Ezekiel or Zeke had everything - thriving business, money, respect and a loving family. Sam, his son-in-law, envied Ezekiel. After all, Zeke took him from the streets and gave him opportunities he would have never had. It started with an anonymous envelope. Zeke did not know quite how to handle it. Then, he caught Sam in a compromising position. Sam and Zeke `s world begin to crumble.

As each domino began to fall, the intensity of the story grew. Sam was literally caught between a rock and a hard place. He did not want to lose all that he had but he also did not want to lose Zeke's respect. But how far was he willing to go?

Joseph has written a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat and turning each page. It was easy to get caught up in the suspense of who would get who first. And just when you thought you knew the ending, the author surprised you once again. This was a fast-paced thriller that I believe would be enjoyed by all.

Priscilla C. Johnson
APOOO BookClub

Cause and effect is something that we all learn Elementary classes. In Betrayal Dwayne Joseph gives us an adult version. This story of betrayal poisoned the lives of every character in this novel. I was floored page after page watching the craziness unfold before me. Mr. Joseph is surely a master with the pen and words and he etches out a story of betrayal like no other. The ending will leave you speechless and looking for more pages to read. I am now a die-hard fan, so Mr. Joseph bring on the rest of the tales buried deep in the recesses of your mind. I know we will enjoy them as well.

When someone betrays you, how would you handle the situation? Would you seek revenge, or would you take it even a step further? Would you make the person pay for their wrongdoings, or would you be able to forgive and forget?

Zeke is a successful entrepreneur who's life is his work. Long hours away from home causes Zeke to neglect his duties at home as a husband. Zeke gets a rude awakening when he receives an anonymous package containing photos of his wife's infidelity. Zeke is out for revenge and is determined to make his wife pay with the ultimate price. Will Zeke go too far and cause his plan to backfire, or will his plan get carried through with life-altering effects?

Sam came from a rough background. After doing several stints in prison, Sam is facing another long prison stay if he gets in any more trouble. On a whim, a robbery takes an interesting twist when the tables are turned on Sam. His life is forever changed, and he is given another opportunity to live again. Sam knows he will forever be indebted to Zeke for all that he has done for him. With the threat of secrets being revealed, Zeke offers Sam a proposition he can't refuse to turn down. With a lot to lose, Sam is given an ultimatum with little time to make a choice. Whatever decision Sam makes could lead to deadly consequences. Will Sam be able to follow through with the request that is asked of him, or will he risk losing it all?

Betrayal by Dwayne S. Joseph was a definite must read. Being neglectful and oblivious to warning signs can lead to a place no one wants to be. There was definitely a serious lesson learned from the novel: when you become too comfortable, there's always someone or something waiting to take your place. From the very beginning, I stayed on the edge of my seat with anticipation. I highly recommend Betrayal to all fiction readers, especially fans of Dwayne S. Joseph.

Reviewed by Kristin for Urban Reviews

The ultimate act of betrayal in a marriage, is when one partner commits adultery. The question is how does one deal with this act of betrayal.

In BETRAYAL by Dwayne S. Joseph, we meet Zeke, a successful, handsome man who owns his own company. Out the clear blue, Zeke, receives a package from and anonymous sender. Inside are photos of his wife Sapphire, naked and in a compromising position with another man. Although he feels devastated, he also feels an uncontrollable rage course through him.

So when he walks in on his son-in-law Sam, screwing an intern...he decides to use this information to his advantage. Zeke is so angered, not only by his wife's betrayal but that of his son-in-law, he feels as though he needs "to kill two birds with one stone," `per say' and make them both pay. Sam already feels indebted to Zeke, but will Sam be able to commit murder for the man that is responsible for giving him a life he would have never dreamed of having? What is Sam willing to do in order to keep his father-in-law quiet and to maintain the lifestyle he grew accustomed to?

BETRAYAL by Dwayne S. Joseph was an excellent novel, that will have you on the edge of your seat and quickly turning the pages to see how the story will unfold. While reading this you will have to ask yourself the questions...who is the catalyst in all of this? Was Zeke wrong for wanting his wife dead? Was Sapphire wrong for cheating? Will Sam carry out the murder? Will he confess his indiscretion to his wife? Mr. Joseph vividly captures the emotions of each character, making it easy to get attached to the characters. Highly recommended!

Reviewed by Leona
UrbanFireBooks
[...]
Final Rating: 4.5 stars

You just keep banging out these page-turners year after year. This book was a great read! Infidelity...who cares these days? Read this book and you'll see just how infidelity can consume a person to the brink of anything. Dwayne gave his characters vibrancy and the storyline was something you would read in the headlines. Keep them coming!

I really enjoyed this novel. Zeke was my fav, his demeanor, and conniving direct attitude made me like him...the humor I found n him was funny 2 me. Sam should of kept that street hunger and Zeke would have never been able to hold him so tightly. Deceit is a mess...cause and effect will always change lives. D. S. Joseph nice going, I really enjoyed this novel.

I didn't know what to think when I got this book. When I first started reading it I thought I knew what was going to happen. Silly me. In the end I was caught off guard. Its refreshing to find books that still catch me off guard in this day and age. I recommend this to anyone who likes well written stories with a twist.

I'm not quite sure I understand the hype surrounding this one. It certainly is not one of Dwayne Joseph's finest works and I should know as I've read nearly all of his books (check out my reviews.) For Joseph, Betrayal is an average attempt at stepping outside of his realm. He pens a suspenseful thriller that if written by someone who specializes in this genre, could have been pretty darn good.

I did not like the constant flashbacks. I know he wanted to provide us with history to support the story, but an author of Joseph's caliber should know not to interrupt current dialogue with historical monologues of no importance. Yawn. The lyrical mind frame and repetitive verses were annoying too. None of the characters were likable. There were no vibrant personalities or sense of humor. The entire book was eerie and dry.

I didn't quite understand why after being married for 30+ years, Zeke couldn't just confront his wife? Why all the games? Did he really feel that a single act of unfaithfulness warranted the ultimate demise of his wife of three decades? And to cowardly push the job on Sam... I'm not sure if Sam's indiscretion was enough to send him on a one way trip back to his old neighborhood. Who knows, what if Jewel would have simply forgiven her husband? Joseph should have raised the blackmail stakes a little more. I'm also not certain that a woman of Sapphire's apparent beauty and charm would have a need to pay for sex... And was it simply a coincidence that Zeke and Sam both raped their wives? Nothing really made sense in this cobweb of mayhem. Joseph should just stick with what he does best.

I actually met Mr. Joseph at an author's brunch in November of 2010, and I'm also a Facebook friend of his. Very nice guy!

As for his book, 'Betrayal,' I thought this was pretty good! Better than I expected. Now I will admit, the first hundred or so pages were just "okay." It didn't wow me, but it didn't bore me either. However, once the countdown began, (those who've read the book will know what I mean when I say, "countdown.") and it got down to the wire what Sam was supposed to do for his father in law, I kid you not....I could not put this book down! I would say around page 139 the book goes from zero to sixty! Once I arrived at page 139, 140; it was a wrap. Whatever I had to do that day was put on hold and forced to wait 'til I was done with the book! Nice set up; very good ending! The first hundred pages earned a 3 star rating, but the last part of the book earned a 5 star, for an average of 4 stars! Great job Mr. Joseph!

May as well dig one for yourself. As the saying goes, there's a thin line between love and hate. This saying has never been truer for Zeke when he received compromising photos of his wife doing the unthinkable with another man.

Zeke is an overachiever who worked hard to provide nothing but the best for his family. His intentions, no matter how great, comes at a price in the form of neglect. Not realizing his part in his wife's infidelity, Zeke uses his son-in-law, Sam, to make her pay the ultimate price. Will Zeke's intended target put an end to his woes once the trigger is pulled or will the best laid plans go awry?

Betrayal by Dwayne S. Joseph was a definite must read. At times, things were a little slow, but the intense way the storyline developed, kept the pages turning. This is a gem of an author that I happened to come across and I must say that I'm looking forward to reading more of his work.